Some Super Awkward 90s Book Covers

My predecessor taught 20 years before retiring from my school.  Thankfully and unthankfully, she left around a billion books in my classroom, and so I've been spending the better part of my teacher workdays organizing them by genre. In doing so, I have discovered that there was roughly a 10-year era in the publishing of young adult literature where book covers were dominated by a style I like to call Super Awkward Realism. Here are some quintessential book covers from the period I've found in my sorting:

This cover is what gave me the idea for this post.  Anyone else's first reaction involve the title Nothing Butt the Truth?

 I'd be worried, too, if a nude feral child was stalking me from behind a jetty.

The caption stole the words right out of my mouth.

 

No comment.  Absolutely no comment.

 Girl in Exile, or Boy in Braids?

"'Always telling Sally what to do. 'Girls tend the garden,' they say. 'Boys get to laugh and play,' they say. We'll see who's laughing soon. Their joy shall turn to ashes in their mouths..." --Girl in this picture

A more awkward pose would be difficult to arrange. Also, this is what it looks like when a student tries to hug me.

I... I can't....

Awkwardly and lovingly,

Teach

P.S. In-service at new school: awesome. Stay tuned for a big surprise!